Why do you play FFXI?>>

[craigm]

Hi guys and girls..It would be a great help if you could answer a couple of questions for me based on FFXI . I am doing a dissertation on escapism in games and wanted to get some first hand responses from the players. Doesn’t have to be long answers!

Real Name/Character Name

Age

What first drew you to playing online games?

Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?

How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game?

What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?

Have you had any negative experiences in the game?

It was also be good if you could post a picture of your character as well!!

Many Many thanks to anyone who responds its greatly appreciated.

This is asking a lot but if u could email your fellow clan/guild members the same questions and get them to email their responses to dexter2k@hotmail.com it would be even better!

[Susurrus]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

ibtl

(I beat the lock)

You'd think by now people would understand that FFXI players (or anyone for that matter) don't like being stereotyped.

[Mog]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

All of the questions are fine except this one:

What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?

Not everyone plays the game to escape from real-life situations. Some people play for fun.

[Demo]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

Okay I will bite...

Real Name/Character Name: ???/ Demo

Age: 26

What first drew you to playing online games?:
I have to say it was the whole concept of the online game to begin with. The online community is made up of forums, stores, chat and various other ways to connect people over a vast distance. But lately I have found that unless I have a need to buy something or chat with friends I usually dont get on very much. Secondly being on a budget allows me cheap fun things to do and I still get to talk to people from all over the world.

Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?

I would have to say for both. I enjoy the story that you can create from an online game such as FFXI but there are times where the day has just been so much of a bear that you just want to go out and clear your head. Online games offer that. You are focused on what is going on ingame and since it is still fairly "real-time" you can easly eat up a day doing nothing but sitting in front of your computer screen. However, I usually play strictly for fun. It is nice to feel like you are somewhere else, rather than sitting in your apartment on a day when you dont have to go to work.

How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game?

Well i have owned the game for about 3 months now and I have only racked up play time equivalent to 6 days 4 hrs 23 min. So not very much.

What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?

It is a chance to immerse yourself in a made up world and become someone else. It gives you the opportunity to see yourself in a completely different light. A chance to change your appearance, to change things about you that you cannot do in real life. You are the person that you wish you could be and if that desire to be something or someone else arises, it is only a few button clicks away to fulfill your desire.

Have you had any negative experiences in the game?

Yes, there are many people who think that the in game experience offers them a chance to act out in ways that they do not normally. People still present that side of themselves even in the game based on beliefs and feelings. I have had experiences with people calling me names because of not healing or offering suggestions on how to make money when they just call out to have people give them money. People know there is not a whole lot that they can have done to them so they have a tendency to behave differently in order to enhance their own view of themselves.


I hope this helps. These are strictly my views and I do not represent the views of any other member on this forum. Just basically my opinion and thoughts on the questions you asked.

[Jarre]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

Woo load of code in that psot so not quoting....

Age 27 (just)

Real name, people may be relucatant to give this for obvious reasons, I am one of them, my characters names are Brickshouse and Littlebrick.

What first drew you to playing online games? Well I love final fantasy, an age to wait for FFXII just got internet in my area and joined the band wagon

Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?
As a part time firefighter i do use this as an escape from teh real world if you see the sights I do and deal with teh emoptional baggage that comes with it, immersing yourself in a different environment is good for your sanity

How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game?
about 10 callouts depending, I work during the day as an Architect so mostly a couple of hours about 4 times a week during the wrkign week and a bit more on weekends, which is why It has taken me along time to level characters up

What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?
Forget about real world issues, be someone else, new world etc. Though you do not escape 100% people still react to your personality the same as your personality ddoes follow you into the game

Have you had any negative experiences in the game?
Yes a few, I did go into the game knowing there will be many "younger people" in teh game, but the old your mother does this" etc. crap gets on my nerves and I have disbanded from parties because of it. Then there are the cheats who try and get an advantage over everyone or just spoil people enjoyment of the game. The other is what I have campaigned alot about in this forum is how us Europeans are penalised with the updates always happenign in the "european prime time" slot so we are always loosing out on precious playing time

[Lilani]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

Real Name

Age

I'm concidering reporting this >_> Never, ever, ever ask people's real name. I don't care what you are doing or how much of your grade depends on it, you never need people's real name for this kind of project.

And, I'm with Mog on that escapism question. That is one-sided and doesn't allow for people to play for other reasons to share their side. It automatiaclly sets boundaries, the one thing you do not want to do when trying to find "why."

And, just to show you something, I will respond to this:

Real Name/Character Name:
Lilani. That's all you need. Simple, huh?

Age:
15. Some others might be unwilling to reveal this as well.

What first drew you to playing online games?:
This is the only MMOG I play, and I wanted to play it because it was a Final Fantasy.

Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?:
I don't play it for any of those. I love the story of FFXI, and I love the company I find in the game. I don't know any other gamers IRL, so in FFXI I found people who I could relate to.

How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game?:
About 4-5 hours a day before school started, but now I can only play it for about 3 hours every few days (it may differ on weekends).

What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?:
Here's that nasty question...I don't play for escapism so I'm going to ignore it.

Have you had any negative experiences in the game?:
I meet people who have no idea how to have fun, have no idea what they are doing, or are just plain incompitant and refuse to admit it. Stupidity of some people is the main thing I hate about this, but it never makes me concider leaving.

It was also be good if you could post a picture of your character as well!!
A picture of my char is in my signature, I would get a more clear one but I don't have much time right now.

See? Not everyone plays to escape. In fact, I think that's the minority of gamers.

[Murphie]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

Well, his dissertation (if it really exists) is on Escapism in Gaming, so...it's kind of key.

A better way of wording it would be "Do you use games for escapism. If so, why or in what way?"

[Zamphire]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

I'm concidering reporting this >_> Never, ever, ever ask people's real name. I don't care what you are doing or how much of your grade depends on it, you never need people's real name for this kind of project.

Really, what harm is it to give out your name? Especially your first name. Do you know how many other people in the world have the EXACT SAME full name as you? Much less the first name. But your right, he doesn't need your name, I just dont see why you got up in so much of a fuss about it.

Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?:
I don't play it for any of those. I love the story of FFXI, and I love the company I find in the game. I don't know any other gamers IRL, so in FFXI I found people who I could relate to.



Have you had any negative experiences in the game?:
I meet people who have no idea how to have fun, have no idea what they are doing, or are just plain incompitant and refuse to admit it. Stupidity of some people is the main thing I hate about this, but it never makes me concider leaving.

What does it matter to you that you meet people who don't know how to have fun. In fact I'd venture to say you are one, since you said you don't play this game to have fun.

[Standablaze]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

-Real Name/Character Name
Standablaze

-Age
My age? 20

-What first drew you to playing online games?
I had the free time.

-Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?
For fun. I dont need to escape real world problems because I confront them.

-How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game?
Depends how busy I am. I have the game open at least 30 hours a week but a fair amount of it is AFK. If it helps Ive had the game for 2 years and Im yet to hit lvl75.

-What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?
It doesnt. I dont have a job and I'm moving to a new country in a month, i.e I dont have a lot to do over the summer. I worked hard on studying and I got good results, I may as well have some time to myself

-Have you had any negative experiences in the game?
No, I dont take in-game slabbering very seriously. I get on with it.

-It was also be good if you could post a picture of your character as well!!
Havent got one, im not on a pc with ffxi

[Heartily]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

Heartily, 60 years old elvan male, married 1 kid in college in Sandy. I farm, cook and make ends meet by finding stuff cheap and selling for a profit,. I have 5 friends throughout the land that help me survive. I learned the way of the beast but I'm a pladin at heart and enjoy helping my fellow man. I've learned blue magic and have traveled to the ends of the land to explore and fight the beastman for
the benefit of all.
If this is escapism, I'm guilty, but it's more like fun and challenge and make believe that happens to control your personality and actions for a short period of time. I've got a stressful engiineering job, when I feel the occasional need to escape reality, tequila is effective. I involve my family in the game so I don't escape the most important reason for my life ( my daughter loves the chocobo chick). I've been playing RPG since they started and the on line version has so much depth that if you don't get deeply involved, you really won't enjoy it.
The older games had one path from beginning to end, and there was usually a book available that showed you how to proceed. On line games have no plot but they have a story and a different goal for every individual. I'm old but I know the player base is young and I don't mind the immaturity , foul language and down right stupidity that you see from time to time. I was young once, no big deal. I do believethat the complaining about the game content and functionality is due to lack of exposure to the RPG over time. Most young people don't realize that in earlier RPG game like Zelda, if you had a power failure without saving correctly, you had to start the game- AT THE BEGINNING. There are many iother examples of how the technology in gaming has improved, since I've seen them all, I'm amazed, I don't complain.
The only negative thing I experience is when people accuse me of buying gil.
I have pretty decent equipment, I've played for over a year an a half. Just because I'm lev 50 and rank 2 doesn't mean you can't make a ton of cash in the game at those levels. ( can you say windy aspir quest 8 times)It shouldn't upset me, but remember, I'm a paladin, proud and honorable and I don't take criticism lightly ( Shield Bash).

[Rostum]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

Character Name Omecle

Age 19

What first drew you to playing online games? Friends.

Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems? For fun.

How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game? A fair few.

Have you had any negative experiences in the game? Yeah.

[avhmia]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

Aw heck, I'll bite.

- Real Name/Character Name
Jane Doe / Avhmia

- Age
27

- What first drew you to playing online games?
I have always played online games purely for ability to play with real-life friends and family.

- Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?
Just for fun. They're a good way to pass the time with folks I don't get to see in the real world too often.

- How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game?
I am logged in a lot bazaaring or chatting irregularly while working around the house and stuff. I'm probably logged in for at least 10 hours per day, but I'm only actuvely engaged in things for perhaps 2-3 hours at a time. I would say I play around 15-20 hours per week.

- What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?
It really doesn't, for me.

- Have you had any negative experiences in the game?
I've seen some nasty people say nasty things, but I try very hard to avoid negative things in my leisure time.

- It was also be good if you could post a picture of your character as well!!
There's a picture of my character (as a BST) in my sig! ^^

[craigm]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

thank you so much for your responses!

In no way am i trying to write a negative view on online gaming, i play myself. Your views are allowing me to inform other people on why we play these games in the positive sense and the freedom of expression they allow us...

I think even if you play for fun the game should be engaging enough that on some level you believe you are the character you are controlling.

Also i understand if you do not want to put your real name thats no problem.

[Balfree]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

Real Name/Character Name

- Rohlan

Age

- 21, Nice to meet you.

What first drew you to playing online games?

- I'm not sure everything falls under the category of "what reason do you have to do it", all i know is that for me, there's no reason that drew me to play online games, its fun. You dont need a reason to have fun.

Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?

- Fun, real problems are solved with real solutions.

How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game?

- 5~10, take 5, give 5, who knows. 10 hours per week sounds about right.

What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?

- While i dont play for that purpose, i do realise its a means to escape "real world" difficulties for many people, in a game where your actions, discussions and arguments usually involve other people, real people, its important to note this: you are enjoying a social part of games, does it not equal to any sort of team sport, or social event? is the fact FFXI is a computer game deviating your mind from what socializing means? interaction with real people, is looked down upon when its done through a computer, how simple minded and sad, im actually glad i can see past that thick cloud that so many people refuse to give a chance.

Have you had any negative experiences in the game?

- No, when you play as a hobby, youre there to have fun, and if you dont take things seriously, you never get burned. You know what? How ironic that you can "live" a perfect life in a game, you can simply ignore people you dislike, and that way you avoid so many of the conflict in real life, is that not superior to what we have to deal with when someone is simply trying to get on our nerves?

[Dooom]

Re: Why do you play FFXI?>>

I am doing a dissertation on escapism in games and wanted to get some first hand responses from the players. Doesn’t have to be long answers!

Real Name/Character Name

I dunno if you've run this by your supervisor, but when I did my dissertation that was based upon questionnaires, I was told that asking people for real names isn't right. One of the conditions of taking part in a questionnaire like this is normally - if not always - anonymity. Questions of gender, age etc. are normally relevant to different population demographics, but real name should never be.

Character name: Dooom (yes, with three o's)

Age: 22

What first drew you to playing online games? : To still have contact with people when most of my RL friends were away at university.


Do you play online games purely for fun, or to escape real world problems?: Fun, I'd say. Escaping problems only really comes into it if it's something i can't do anything about, and need to take my mind off the situation at hand. If anything, I often talk to people in-game about my RL problems.

How many hours a week would you say you spent on the game?: 30 hours total, I'd say.

What is it about the game that evokes a sense of escapism?: Pass.

Have you had any negative experiences in the game?: The same ones that you get in any other social situation. People being assholes, selfish, and plain old bad luck.